Projectile



INVENTORS Joseph H. Church Wilfred E. Thi n gnu W W ATTO NEYS J. H. CHURCH ETAL PROJEcTILE Filed March 22, 1941 Patented Oct. 3, 1944PROJECTILE Application March 22, 1941, Serial No. 384 697 9 Claims. (01.10256) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April, 30,1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufacturedand used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without thepayment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a projectile.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a novel projectile in whichcontrolled timing of the initiation of an explosive charge at its rearend is obtained by a pair of relatively movable members which comprisethe body of the projectile.

The invention is further characterized by a novel firing mechanism whichis armed during fiight of the projectile.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects andadvantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferredembodiment as shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the improved projectile;

Figs. 2 and 3 are modifications thereof.

Referring to Fig. 1 the body of the projectile comprises an outertubular member 5 and a slidably related inner tubular member 6 assembledwith its rear end normally spaced a short distance from the closed baseI of the outer member and from a cushioning disk 8, for example of lead,fitted therein.

The tubular members are maintained in spaced relation in any knownmanner, for example by a shear pin 9 and/or a centrifugally operablebolt in, the purpose being to prevent relative movement of the memberson set-back.

A capsule II containing an explosive charge I2 is placed in the tube 6and has its front end l3 of any well known configuration spaced from thefront end of the tube 6. A casing 14 in rear of the capsule has itsmarginal portion disposed in rear of the rear end of the inner tube andis seated on the disk 8. The casing contains a charge l5 ofnitroglycerin carried by an absorbent such as kieselguhr. Thenitroglycerin is adapted to be separated out from the absorbent underthe influence of centrifugal force to occupy the marginal portion of thecasing l4 underneath the tube 6.

On impact the tube 6 is arrested while the remaining elements continueforwardly. The nitroglycerin is set off by the shock of impact and it isinsured by the action of the tube 6. This in turn sets off the mainexplosive charge I2 when it is in proper relation to the target tosecure the best effect.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2 the inner tube l6 has an ogival noseH with provision for permitting relative forward movement of the capsuleIS. The rear end of, the tube is supported by a member l9 which may becarried by either the inner tube l6 or the outer tube 20, but, as shown,it comprises a cage having numerous light, laterally yieldable dependingfingers 2!. The fingers serve, in addition, to normally cage a pair ofprimers 2222. Obviously the force of setback of the inner sleeve portion16, is sustained by the fingers collectively, but centrifugal force actsupon them individually.

The fingers serve to support the inner tube against set-back and thenare thrown outwardly by centrifugal force during fiight. The primers,also under the influence of centrifugal force, are displaced radiallyand are positioned underneath the tube 1 6.

When the projectile is not subjected to rotation in flight as when firedfrom a mortar, such as disclosed by the modification in Fig. 3, theprimers 2323 are held by set-back pins 24 placed in the path of movementof the inner tube v25. The primers are moved into the path of the innertube by a spring 26.

We claim:

1. A projectile comprising a cup-shaped body portion and an inner sleevemember slidably mounted in said body portion with its rear end spacedfrom the bottom thereof, and with its front end .preadjacent the bodyportion, a charge in said projectile comprising a forward main explosiveand a rearward initiator, said charge being supported by the base ofsaid body portion and said initiator being positionable between thesleeve member and the base of the body portion under the action ofcentrifugal force.

2. A projectile comprising a cup-shaped body portion and an inner sleevemember slidably mounted in said body portion with its rear end spacedfrom the bottom thereof, and with its front end preadjacent the bodyportion, a main explosive charge within said sleeve member and aninitiating unit rearward thereof, said unit comprising a capsulecontaining a priming charge and movable into position between the sleevemember and the base of the body portion under the action of centrifugalforce.

3. A projectile comprising a cup-shaped body portion and an inner sleevemember slidably mounted in said body portion with its rear end spacedfrom the bottom thereof, and with its front end preadjacent the bodyportion, impact shearable means locking said body portion to said sleevemember, a main explosive charge within said sleeve member and aninitiating unit rearward thereof, said unit comprising a capsulecontaining a priming charge, spring means to force said capsule undersaid sleeve member and means releasable on setback, holding said capsulein its position away from the path of the sleeve member.

4. A projectile having a body comprising a cup-shaped outer portion andan inner initiating charge igniting sleeve portion slidably mounted insaid outer portion with its rear end spaced from the bottom thereof andits front end adjacent the outer portion, a main explosive charge withinsaid sleeve portion, and an initiating charge at the rear end thereofand positionable between the sleeve portion and the base of the outerportion under the action of centrifugal force.

front end preadjacent the outer portion, a charge within said sleeveportion, an initiator behind from the bottom thereof and with its frontend 5. In a projectile according to claim 4, ben;

V trifugally removable means holding the sleeve preadjacent the outerportion, a container hold-

